Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Block, on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, today delivered the keynote address at the Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference in Vancouver, B.C., where she emphasized the Government of Canada's ongoing support of the Canadian nuclear industry.

In line with this year's conference theme "Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Technology around the Pacific Basin in the 21stCentury," Ms. Block spoke about the potential of the nuclear sector to meet growing global demand for low-emissions electricity and actions the Government of Canada is taking to enable the industry to take advantage of these new opportunities.

Parliamentary Secretary Block discussed Canada's nuclear agenda, which includes rigorous efforts to promote trade in nuclear products and services with countries such as China and India, and the restructuring of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) to bring private-sector rigour and efficiency to its management while leveraging AECL's assets and capabilities. She also emphasized Canada's ongoing efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security. Among these efforts, the proposed Energy Safety and Security Act, which is currently in Parliament, substantially increases the absolute liability of nuclear facility operators from $75 million to $1 billion for injury and damage.

Quick Facts

Canada's nuclear industry accounts for 30,000 high-quality jobs and helps make Canada's electricity supply among the cleanest in the world.

Nuclear power generates close to 15 percent of Canada's electricity, including more than half the electricity supply in Ontario.

Nuclear power generation is projected to grow by two-thirds over the period 2011-2035, led by increased demand in emerging economies such as China and India.

Quotes

"Nuclear energy continues to be a key part of Canada's energy mix and a major contributor to our status as a world leader in clean electricity. Our government remains committed to a strong and sustainable nuclear industry."

Kelly Block, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honorable Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario